Blog - The Purbottar

12 Mar

V-Guard’s Luxecube Water Heater wins German Design Award 2026

Business BureauBusiness

V-Guard Industries Limited has won the prestigious German Design Award 2026 for its innovative Luxecube Water Heater. The award, presented by the German Design Council, recognises excellence in product design. The award ceremony was held in Frankfurt and brought together leading designers and industry experts from 17 nationalities. The 2026 edition of the awards received more than 3,900 entries from 57 countries, making it one of the most competitive global design platforms. V-Guard’s win highlights its focus on combining functionality, aesthetics and everyday usability in product development. This also marks the company’s second consecutive win at the German Design Awards…

12 Mar

Iran War Impact Reaches India: LPG Shortage Hits Restaurants, Kitchens Across Cities

nanika EditorLatest

Supply disruption through Strait of Hormuz squeezes cooking-gas availability; eateries cut menus, some shut operationsThe ongoing conflict involving Iran is beginning to affect everyday life in India, with cooking-gas supplies tightening across several cities. Disruptions in energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following strikes by United States and Israel have started to impact the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the country.Reports suggest that restaurants and commercial kitchens are among the worst affected. Several eateries have been forced to cut down their menus, reduce operating hours or temporarily shut down due to shortages of commercial LPG cylinders.According to…

12 Mar

Secret Caves and Russian Crude: India’s Strategic Shield Against the Middle East Oil Shock

anuprova EditorBusiness

As the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, threatening the world’s most critical energy artery—the Strait of Hormuz—India has activated a sophisticated, multi-layered defense strategy to safeguard its economy from a potential oil shock. Central to this "shock-proofing" effort is a network of secret, massive underground rock caverns known as Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR). Located deep beneath the earth in Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur, these high-security "caves" hold approximately 5.33 million metric tonnes of crude oil, providing a vital emergency buffer that can sustain national demand for nearly ten days. These facilities are uniquely designed to be impervious to the…

12 Mar

GI-Tagged Joha rice from Assam Exported to United Kingdom and Italy

riya EditorAssam

Assam's GI-tagged joha rice, renowned for its distinctive aroma and flavor, is set to be exported to the United Kingdom and Italy, following the recent launch of a 25 metric tonne shipment overseen by Assam's agriculture minister, Atul Bora. This landmark event was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in partnership with the state agriculture department, with the shipment executed by M/s Safe Agritrade Pvt Ltd, a registered exporter known for specializing in rice and spices. Joha rice, an indigenous aromatic variety from Assam, obtained its Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017, and is…

12 Mar

Telecom Services Restored in Assam District Bordering Garo Hills

riya EditorAssam

Telecom services in Assam’s South Salmara-Mankachar district have been restored on Thursday by the state home and political department revoking the earlier notification prohibiting internet/mobile data services in the district bordering Meghalaya’s Garo Hills. The earlier notification, issued on March 10, 2026, ordered temporary suspension of Internet/mobile data services of all mobile service providers in the district in view of reports of incidents having a potential to disturb peace and tranquility in various parts of the district bordering Garo Hills on March 9, 2026, in connection with the issue of filing nominations of the GHADC elections in the neighboring state.…

12 Mar

48 projects worth Rs.6,044.36 cr sanctioned under PM-DevINE scheme: DoNER Minister

riya EditorNews

Minister of State of Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) Dr Sukanta Majumdar today said that a total of 48 projects worth Rs.6,044.36 cr have been sanctioned under the PM-DevINE scheme till Feb 28, 2026. The Minister stated this in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for Northeast Region (PM-DevINE) scheme was announced in the Union Budget of 2022–23 and was approved by the Cabinet with an outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for a period of four years from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26. "Till February 28, 2026, a total of…

12 Mar

Centre–Nagaland Petroleum Row Falls Under Supreme Court of India Jurisdiction: Gauhati High Court

riya EditorGuwahati

The Gauhati High Court has observed that the constitutional dispute between the Union government and the Government of Nagaland over petroleum and natural gas regulations in the state falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India. In a judgment delivered on March 10, a division bench comprising Justice Kalyan Rai Surana and Justice Manish Choudhury made the observation while disposing of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) related to the validity of the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012 and the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2012. The PIL originated from an earlier petition…

12 Mar

Renault unveils ‘futuREady’ strategy, plans 36 new models and strong push for electrification by 2030

Business BureauBusiness

Renault Group has announced a new global strategic plan titled “futuREady”, marking the next phase of its transformation as the company aims to strengthen its position as the reference European carmaker in an increasingly competitive automotive industry. The strategy builds on the success of the Renaulution plan launched in 2021, which helped the company regain momentum through product renewal and stronger brand positioning. Under the new roadmap, Renault Group plans to launch 36 new models by 2030, including 22 in Europe with 16 electric vehicles, while expanding its presence in key growth markets such as India, South America and South…

12 Mar

No LPG Crisis in Assam: Police Issue Advisory as Govt Urges Public Not to Share Unverified Fuel Shortage Claims

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam Police has issued a public advisory warning people not to spread rumours about a possible shortage of LPG and other fuel products in the state. The warning comes amid rising public concern over fuel supplies following the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the Assam Police said strict legal action will be taken against anyone who spreads false or misleading information about the availability of LPG, petrol, diesel and other petroleum products.The police urged citizens not to believe or forward unverified messages circulating on social media. According to the advisory,…

12 Mar

Scientists at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Create Radiation-Resistant Cement Mortar

riya EditorGuwahati

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have created a new radiation-resistant cement mortar aimed at enhancing safety in nuclear facilities by improving the structural integrity and radiation-shielding capabilities of concrete. This innovation incorporates microparticles—boron oxide, lead oxide, bismuth oxide, and tungsten oxide—into conventional cement mortar, enhancing its density, durability, and ability to block harmful radiation. The enhanced mortar significantly reduces radiation penetration, thereby mitigating the risk of leaks in sensitive environments like nuclear reactors. The study revealed that each microparticle affects the mortar differently: lead oxide increases density and strength, tungsten oxide improves cracking resistance and durability, while…